A wildfire that has burned for 11 days in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park has prompted anger and frustration among residents of the village of Nethy Bridge, who faced evacuation orders. More than 500 firefighters, supported by helicopter water-bombers, have been tackling the blaze, which has affected approximately 600 hectares of land.
Police Scotland declared a major incident and issued evacuation orders for some residents in Nethy Bridge on Friday. While residents have since been permitted to return to their homes, the handling of the incident has drawn criticism.
Sandy McCook, chairman of the Nethy Bridge and Vicinity Community Council, stated that residents felt "completely let down" by the Scottish government, accusing them of "dither." He described the village as "sombre" and its residents as "still on edge" and worried, with "tears of despair, tears of anger, tears of frustration." McCook also characterized the smoke as "apocalyptic" and asserted that the fire was "not controlled in any way, shape or form," contradicting earlier official statements that it had been contained.
Concerns were also raised about decisions being made "from Edinburgh" and the delay in declaring the blaze a major incident. One resident, John McGlinchey, called the evacuation "just not organised properly," and others cited insufficient communication from the government.
Emergency services attributed the fire's unpredictable course partly to significantly changed weather conditions, including stronger winds. On Saturday, the smoke shifted direction, blowing towards Aberdeenshire and the North Sea.
Scottish Justice Secretary Neil Gray acknowledged the availability of helicopters throughout the week as part of the tactical response to the growing threat of wildfires. On Saturday night, Police Scotland Superintendent Judy Hill confirmed that the immediate threat prompting the evacuation orders had been addressed. She noted that significant resources and volunteers continued to work in "challenging circumstances to extinguish the fires." The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reported on Saturday evening that 75 firefighters remained on the ground near Nethy Bridge. Earlier that day, police had advised residents in affected areas and those impacted by smoke in Aberdeenshire and Moray to keep windows and doors closed.